Karun Nair gave Jasprit Bumrah a reality check, bluntly says ex-India batsman

Former India cricketers Manoj Tiwary and Rohan Gavaskar heaped praise on Karun Nair and backed him to be a part of the Indian Test team for the upcoming tour of England.

Karun Nair made his much-awaited return to the IPL on Sunday (April 13) when he played for Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. It was his first IPL game since 2022 and the right-handed batsman made the game a memorable one.

He got the chance in the playing eleven only because Faf du Plessis was injured and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Chasing 206 runs, Delhi Capitals were off to a disastrous start with Jake Fraser-McGurk departing for a duck. However, Karun Nair launched a stunning counterassault and put his team in the driver's seat in no time.

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He raced away to his fifty off just 22 balls. It was his first IPL fifty since 2018. The out-of-favor India batsman missed out on a well-deserved IPL century by only 11 runs. He scored 89 runs off just 40 balls with the help of 12 fours and 5 sixes.

Nair's knock, however, eventually went in vain as Delhi Capitals lost the game by 12 runs. While they were in command for most part of the chase, they eventually capitulated in a spectacular fashion and suffered their first loss of the season.

Tiwary, Gavaskar praise Karun Nair:

The cricketing fraternity has been busy praising Karun Nair and Manoj Tiwary and Rohan Gavaskar have joined the bandwagon as well. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Tiwary pointed out Nair's explosive approach against Jasprit Bumrah.

Nair hit Bumrah for two fours in his first over before taking him to the cleaners in his second over. Bumrah's second over was the final over of the powerplay and Nair smashed the India star for 18 runs in that over including two sixes and a four.

"Jasprit Bumrah being expensive was because of Karun Nair. Because as soon as Karun Nair came in, he gave Bumrah a reality check," said Tiwary.

"It felt really good to see that. My gut feeling is that for the upcoming England tour, they will include him in the Test team. And they absolutely should, because right now that guy has the Midas touch," he added.

On the other hand, Gavaskar said that Nair grabbed the opportunity with both hands and Delhi Capitals would find it tough to drop him from the playing eleven.

"When opportunity knocks, invite opportunity for dinner" — that’s exactly what he did. Today he got the chance and made full use of it.

"While Manoj is talking about the England series, I’m saying how can even Delhi Capitals think of dropping him now? He’ll definitely play the full IPL. He got one opportunity and grabbed it completely," said Gavaskar.